Elephant Abuse Circus Owner Found Guilty

A circus owner found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an elephant in his care has been spared a prison term.

Bobby Roberts was also convicted of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating the animal called Anne.

The 69-year-old defendant, who ran Super Circus in Polebrook, Cambridgeshire, also failed to ensure the Asian elephant's needs were met by not giving her medication for her arthritis.

Roberts was given a three-year conditional discharge, but not ordered to pay costs and was not banned from owning animals.

His wife Moira, 75, was cleared by a jury following the five-day trial at Northampton Crown Court. The couple, from Oundle, had denied the charges.

The court was shown footage filmed secretly by animal welfare group Animal Defenders International (ADI) of the elephant being kicked and struck with a pitchfork several times by the groom at the circus's winter quarters last year.

Sentencing, District Judge David Chinnery said he recognised that Bobby had not directly inflicted the suffering, adding that he had cared for animals "for the greater part of your seventy years without criticism from any quarter".

The abuse was caught on film by ADI

He said: "As you know only too well there are vast swathes of the public who have publicly voiced their views on what should happen to you.

"No cruelty was administered by your own hand.

"The chaining I regard as serious but the real cruelty it seems to me was inflicted by your groom, a man whom you had entrusted with the care of Anne, behind your back and without your knowledge.

" ...As a result of what has happened your business is effectively at an end. You have lost everything which you have built up over the last five decades. I am told that you have no funds at all."

He added that Bobby had "suffered enough punishment over the last eighteen months" and said given his "exemplary" past record was not imposing a ban on owning or caring for animals.

The secret video footage, filmed between January 21 and February 15 2011, also showed Anne constantly chained to the ground.

The 58-year-old elephant could be seen chained by one foot and one hind leg in a barn.

Anne now lives at Longleat Safari Park

The legs of the animal - who the prosecution allege was not receiving medication for its arthritis - could also be seen to buckle several times in the footage.

Roberts claimed he was unaware that Anne had been constantly chained and that the groom, who is believed to have returned home to Romania, had not followed his instructions.

He admitted that the elephant would be chained up at times but said his instructions were that she be let loose behind an electric fence in a cordoned-off area.

Jan Creamer, chief executive of ADI, criticised the sentence.

She told Sky News: "No costs, no fines, and a conditional discharge is derisory. It's giving the message to circus owners that they don't need to protect these animals."

The RSPCA's Jody Gordon added: "Anyone looking at this shocking footage can see how this poor elephant suffered, and this clearly spells out how completely unacceptable this is.

"It is only a pity those physically beating Anne in the film footage could not be prosecuted also."

In April 2011, the defendants agreed to hand Anne over to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, where she is to live out her days.

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PM Faces Tory Rebellion Over Gay Marriage

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Reporter

David Cameron could be facing the biggest Conservative rebellion of his premiership over plans to introduce gay marriage.

Some 118 Tory MPs - more than a third of the party's representatives- have indicated to their constituents that they are uneasy about the highly controversial move, according to The Daily Mail.

The reported figure is a sign of how divided the Conservative Party is over gay marriage, despite both the Prime Minister and Chancellor George Osborne being personally committed to legislating for it.

Ministers have promised to introduce a Bill before 2015, although it has been claimed this week that Mr Cameron actually wants to fast-track legislation and bring it before Parliament early next year.

The Government has indicated that there will be a free vote, meaning that MPs will be able to vote against the Prime Minister's position without facing disciplinary action.

However it is far from clear if all 118 MPs would vote against the legislation.

Sky News have spoken to several MPs quoted in the article who have ruled out voting against the Government.

Openly gay MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, said he hasn't decided whether to abstain or vote in favour but says he doesn't understand why it's being brought forward now.

Other MPs have expressed concerns over whether enough safeguards are in place to protect religious institutions but refuse to indicate whether they oppose the principle of gay marriage.

The Chancellor however believes a large Tory vote against gay marriage will not help the party appeal to centre ground voters.

Mr Osborne warned last week that ditching the policy would be toxic electorally.

He said that polls indicate a "clear majority" in favour of the change, particularly among the young and women.

A significant vote in opposition to the Government's proposals from within Conservative ranks would certainly be an embarrassment for the Prime Minister and a further blow to his credibility.

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Thousands Lose Power As Rain Batters Britain

Thousands of people have been left without power and scores evacuated from their homes after heavy rain battered Britain for a second day.

Up to 60mm (5ins) of rain fell in some areas as winds gusted up to 70mph, leaving vast swathes of the country under water.

People trying to escape the rising waters were forced to abandon their cars and the AA reported that 900 incidents were being reported every hour. 

Around 2,000 homes in the South West and 500 in Wales were without power, as Western Power said it was looking to restore electricity.

There is more bad weather to come with forecasters predicting storms over the weekend, although Friday will bring a brief respite with calm and sunny weather.

Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "The threat of flooding looks to remain into the weekend, with potentially stormy conditions across England, Wales and Ireland on Saturday night.

"The threat of yet more heavy rain falling on already saturated ground is not good news and will only increase the risk of flooding."

The South West, Midlands and west of England again bore the brunt of the bad weather.

Commuters were faced with widespread delays and some cancellations, including at London Paddington where some trains to south west stations were scrapped. Minor delays were reported on cross-Channel ferry journeys from the Port of Dover in Kent.

The Environment Agency has scores of flood warnings - where flooding is expected - in place, most of them in the South West and the Midlands, and nearly 200 less serious flood alerts have also been issued.

John Curtin, head of incident management at the Environment Agency, said they had sent out teams to check on flood defences and monitor river levels.

Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: "Drivers really need to be careful and be prepared for sudden road closures."

He said that some drivers ploughed into flood waters "oblivious to the risks" and warned that this could wreck a car's engine.

The motoring organisation was expecting to attend as many as 13,000 call-outs by the end of the day - 3,500 more than they normally would.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals criticised a decision to allow a ship carrying hundreds of sheep to set sail across the English Channel in such bad weather conditions.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said the crossing amounted to torture and added: "It is barbaric that animals are at sea on open decks in these appalling weather conditions."

People were evacuated from Billing Aquadrome campsite in Northamptonshire following flood warnings from the nearby River Nene.

Coastguards issued a warning after a man narrowly avoided being swept out to sea in his canoe off the south Devon coast.

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Vasa Praevia: Ultrasound Check Could Save Lives

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

A couple who lost their baby to a preventable complication of childbirth are calling for all pregnant women to have a simple screening test.

Henry Samat died 13 days after a blood vessel in the placenta ruptured during his delivery.

Despite having a series of transfusions, doctors couldn't save him.

His parents, Natalie and Daren, now want the NHS National Screening Committee to order all hospitals to include a two minute check of the placenta and umbilical cord during the routine ultrasound scan that is done at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Natalie told Sky News: "At the time we were told it was a maternal bleed and nothing could have been done to prevent it.

Natalie and Daren keep precious photos of the time they had with Henry

"I remember Daren telling me when he'd done some research that it could have been prevented and and it could have been screened for.

"The devastation of that - on top of losing your child - I just can't describe it."

The condition is called vasa praevia. Blood vessels in the placenta grow abnormally and can rupture when a woman's waters break or the baby starts to move down the birth canal.

At least one baby is affected by the condition every day in the UK. Women who've had IVF are at particular risk.

But the condition is easily spotted using normal ultrasound machines.

Women identified with the condition can be monitored with further scans and then have a caesarean delivery, with 97% of babies surviving.

The couple's experience inspired them to set up an awareness website

Daren said the evidence in favour of screening is overwhelming.

"It does upset us that there aren't routine screening guidelines for vasa praevia, but we are confident that there will be," he said.

"It can be screened for cheaply without further training and without any extra time added to scan."

The National Screening Committee said in 2008 that there wasn't enough evidence to back checks for all women.

But it is about to reconsider new evidence, with a decision due early next year.

The West Middlesex University Hospital in London already scans all pregnant women for the condition.

Campaigners hope screening for vasa praevia will become standard practice

Alexandra Drought, a senior ultrasound specialist, said: "In a unit of our size we would expect to see two or three babies a year where there is vasa praevia.

"We believe that is a sufficient number to try to exclude this condition. It is worth looking for to save that life."

Four years ago, the National Screening Committee said that checks could cause unnecessary anxiety for women.

But the West Middlesex said women find the scans reassuring.

And Natalie Samat said women already deal with anxiety from other checks in pregnancy.

She said: "The lifelong sadness you are going to feel having lost a baby far outweighs a few anxious months you will forget about when your baby is born"

:: Natalie and Daren Samat run the support group Vasa Praevia

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House Fire: Murder Probe Into Family Deaths

A house fire that killed a mother and her five children in Essex last month is now being treated as a murder investigation.

Sabah Usmani, a 44-year-old doctor, and the children died after a fire at their home in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of October 15.

Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, said: "This is now a murder investigation. We believe that someone burgled the house and then caused a fire that took the lives of six innocent people.

The interior of the house

"Someone knows something about this incident and for whatever reason has not come forward to tell police what they saw or know.

"Please search your conscience for the sake of those five young children and their mother."

Sabah's husband, Abdul Shakoor, a doctor, tried unsuccessfully to save his family from the blaze.

His daughter Hira, 12, and sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, died at the scene.

His son Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were taken to hospital in a critical condition and later died.

Dr Shakoor was the only survivor

At the same time as fire crews were tackling the blaze, a Ford Focus car was alight in a parking area nearby.

Mr Vinson said: "The car that was discovered alight on the same morning belonged to a neighbour and was parked around 20 metres away from the Shakoor home. Do you have any information about this car fire?"

"I need the public's help and appeal for information about people who were in the area and about items taken in the burglary," he added.

Dr Shakoor's laptop bag which contained a two-pin lead was originally found in a hedge along the footpath between St Michael's Close and Whitewaits, Harlow by two teenagers, then abandoned in Whitewaits by some garages.

Police want to know how the laptop bag came to be abandoned in the hedge. They also want to anyone who has been offered a Toshiba Satellite, the make of a family laptop that is still missing, to contact police.

Mr VInson said: "We need to find a group of four young men, 16-19, possibly wearing tracksuits and baseball hats, one significantly taller than the others.

"Additionally we need to speak to two teenagers on bikes. Anyone who was in the area at the time of the fire or has any information about who was there must contact us."

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Votes For Prisoners: Draft Bill To Be Unveiled

A draft bill on whether prisoners should be given the right to vote will be published later today.

MPs will be given three options: giving votes to prisoners who have been behind bars for four years or less, six months or less, or no votes for prisoners at all.

They are likely to get the chance to vote on the bill early next year, and are expected to maintain the blanket ban.

In 2005, the European Court Of Human Rights (ECHR) said it was up to individual countries to decide which prisoners should be denied the right to vote from jail, but that a total ban was illegal.

David Cameron says is strongly opposed to prisoners getting the vote

Officials in Strasbourg have given the Government until Friday to comply with the ruling, and could impose a fine if the law is not changed.

Last February, the Commons called for the blanket ban to be maintained, while Prime Minister David Cameron has ruled out the option of allowing criminals to vote in elections.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has warned against defying the Strasbourg court, saying its ruling imposes an international legal obligation on the UK.

The European Court of Human Rights made its ruling seven years ago

But Mr Cameron made it clear he did not want to change the status quo.

He told the Commons last month: "I do not want prisoners to have the vote, and they should not get the vote - I am very clear about that.

"If it helps to have another vote in Parliament on another resolution to make it absolutely clear and help put the legal position beyond doubt, I am happy to do that.

"But no one should be in any doubt: prisoners are not getting the vote under this Government."

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Church Of England Votes Against Women Bishops

The Church of England's governing body the General Synod has voted against the appointment of women bishops.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams had said he feels a "deep personal sadness" at the result, which has been described as a "a disaster for the Church of England". 

Dr Williams, who leaves his post at the end of this year, wished his successor the Rt Rev Justin Welby, "every blessing" with resolving the issue.

"Of course I hoped and prayed that this particular business would be at another stage before I left, and course it is a personal sadness, a deep personal sadness that that is not the case," he said.

"I can only wish the Synod and the archbishop all good things and every blessing with resolving this in the shortest possible time."

The draft measure to allow women to become bishops failed to gain the necessary two-thirds majority among the lay members.

The House of Bishops voted 44 in favour, with three against and two recorded abstentions. In the House of Clergy, 148 voted in favour, 45 against and there were no abstentions.

The vote was the biggest decision taken in the General Synod in 20 years

But in the House of Laity, which represents lay members in parishes around the country, 74 voted against, compared to 132 in favour with no abstentions.

It will be 2015 before the issue is debated again.

The Rev Rachel Weir, of the campaign group Women and the Church, said: "We're absolutely devastated. Not just devastated on behalf of clergy women - obviously this will be an enormous blow to clergy women, it's awful for their morale - but it's a disaster for the Church of England."

Christina Rees, a campaigner for women bishops, said the result was a "disaster".

She added: "It's a real shame. I really thought it would go through, most of the Synod is in a state of shock.

"Seventy-four per cent of the Synod said yes, but it had to have a two thirdsmajority in each house - it only failed in the House of Laity.

"I think it's a betrayal of trust in the wider church."

The Rt Rev Justin Welby had earlier urged the General Synod to give the legislation the necessary majority.

People were visibly upset by the outcome

But a series of speakers opposed giving final approval to the legislation.

Canon Simon Killwick, chairman of the Catholic Group in the General Synod, urged members to vote against the legislation.

"I do not believe that this draft legislation will be good for the Church of England," he had said.

"We are all desperate to move on from the sad infighting of the last few years - but this legislation does not provide a clear way forward."

General Synod member Susie Leafe said she believed the result was because of faults in the legislation.

"There were a lot of places along the way that we could have had a measure in front of us that wouldn't have been voted down, and it's very sad that this was able to go on without us facing the reality of the situation.

"I know there is a large minority in the church that feel the same way as I do. We knew it was going to be very, very close."

But she said supporters will still try and go on with their fight, adding: "We'll take a new piece of paper and we'll start again and we'll find a way of doing this.

"Churches will still be open on Sunday."

The vote was the biggest decision to be taken by the 470-strong body in 20 years and the defeat means the legislation will take at least another five years before it could reach the same stage for debate.

The result has been criticised on Twitter. Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith wrote "Sick of waiting for the established church to come in line with every other major inst. Disestablish - they don't represent my country."

Following the vote, Father Gillean Craig, the vicar at St Mary Abbotts, the church David Cameron and his family attend, emailed her congregation saying: "Please pray with me for our church and especially for those women who feel that their own priestly ministry has been savagely undermined and devalued by this failure to acknowledge that God has endowed them with gifts and talents that makes them worthy to share in the church's ministry of leadership ... This is a day of shame for our church."

A spokesman for the Church of England said there would be an emergency meeting of the House of Bishops on Wednesday.

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Report: Thousands Of Children Raped And Abused

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

At least 2,409 children were raped or abused by gangs or groups in England between August 2010 and October 2011, according to the Office of the Children's Commissioner.

Their interim report - the most in-depth investigation to date of child exploitation by gangs and groups in England - found a further 16,500 children were at "high risk" of abuse.

Deputy Children's Commissioner Sue Berelowitz – who is leading the inquiry - told Sky News that the figures are likely to be an "under-counting".

"Agencies across England are not sufficiently aware of the warning signs and they are not taking action to protect children," she said.

"There are of course some who are doing good work on this but too many are not taking this seriously enough, which means some children are falling through the net.

"It's a very, very worrying situation. It's absolutely not good enough that there are children in need of protection and are not being protected."

Much of the evidence presented in the report is too harrowing and graphic to be reported here.

It comes just months after nine Asian men who groomed white girls as young as 13 in Rochdale with drink and drugs were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.

But Ms Berelowitz insists the "model" of Asian men targeting white girls "is just one of a number of models", and has warned that if investigators concentrate on those patterns, victims could be missed.

White men form the largest group of perpetrators in gangs and groups, according to the report.

28% of the victims brought to the attention of the inquiry were from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the report is a "wake-up call"

The report looks at the nature of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

It also highlights the use of mobile phones, social networking sites and other forms of technology through which perpetrators groom, bully and pursue victims - and the impact of violent pornography.

The report authors say it is "clear that sexually exploited children are not always identified even when they show signs of being victims".

They are now calling for "urgent action" to make sure that all agencies are made explicitly aware of the warning signs of child exploitation, and act on them.

Those signs include children going missing, offending, drug and alcohol abuse, self-harming and mental health problems.

It is also encouraging agencies to share information and work together.

Councillor David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said: "While these are uncomfortable lessons for the organisations tasked with looking after children they will help to ensure improvements are put in place to better protect young people in future."

Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: "This report quite clearly shows that the terrible problem of children being groomed for sexual abuse is widespread and needs urgent action to bring it to a halt.

"Sex offenders come from all backgrounds but if there is a problem with one community in a particular area we must be bold enough to address it and not just turn a blind eye."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the evidence should act as "a wake-up call to the Government and other agencies that urgent action is needed".

If you are a child or young person affected by abuse or exploitation you can call Childline for advice and support 24 hours a day on 0800 11 11.

If you are an adult who needs support or information, or are concerned about a child or young person, call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

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Women Bishops: Church Of England To Vote

Debate: The Vote On Women Bishops

Updated: 2:06am UK, Tuesday 20 November 2012

Two members of the General Synod - both female - put the case for and against women bishops in the Church of England.

:: The Case Against

Lorna Ashworth, General Synod Member From The Chichester Diocese

I am one of thousands of women who believe that the vote on women bishops should not go through today.

Is this because I am misogynist? Is that even possible? Rather, my three reasons to vote against the legislation are as follows:

First, through my study of scripture and in my desire to be obedient to God, I believe that leadership roles in the church are reserved for men.

This is not to say that women are not equal to men or that they do not have the skill or ability to do the job, but that in this sphere, the position of leadership is reserved for men whom God has called.

Secondly, the legislation on the table does not serve its intended purpose. Although it will make way for women bishops, which is the mind of the church, it offers no secure assurances that traditionalists, like myself, will have a future place in the church.

The measure relies on a code of practice (which has yet to be agreed upon) to offer a scheme of oversight for parishes that request it. This will vary from diocese to diocese depending on the interpretation of the code.

The measure does not stipulate that the male bishops providing oversight for the requesting parish needs to hold or have sympathy with their theological position. This removes any certainty that bishops holding traditional views will be selected in the future.

Finally, the proponents of women bishops are asking traditionalists to trust them; as if somehow desiring proper provision within legislation fosters mistrust.

Trusting the proponents is a big ask when circulated papers to General Synod members call my theological conviction a "non-gospel" theology and that in the future it would no longer be appropriate to select, train or ordain anyone who does not conform to this new position within the church.

How could I even consider a yes vote?

:: The Case In Favour

Christina Rees, General Synod Member from the Chichester Diocese

I have been sent a range of emails about the debate on women bishops.

I am an elected representative on the Archbishops' Council, and someone who has been closely involved with the subject of women's ordination for a number of years.

Synod has been studying and thinking about the issue of having women as bishops since 2000, and since then has indicated its support for removing the legal obstacles to consecrating women and has also affirmed that having women as bishops is consonant with the faith of our Church.

A few years ago we rejected a range of options, but accepted having a statutory Code of Practice, to include arrangements for those who remain opposed to ordaining women.

For better or worse, we are the group of people, along with the members of the Houses of Clergy and Bishops, who will be voting on the Women Bishops Measure.

I believe we can have confidence that the Measure will open the way to women bishops, and that those who in conscience cannot accept the ministry of ordained women will have a clear way of requesting an alternative bishop or priest.

The Measure may not be perfect, but I know how carefully it has been drafted and I am confident it will deliver what all of us would like.

I have spoken with some of my friends who do not accept women's ordained ministry and they have agreed that it provides what they need.

The mantra of "not good enough" is simply not the case.

I realise there is a gap between where I am and where some others are on this issue, but I do not believe that gap can be filled with more legislation.

The only thing that can fill the gap is trust. I hope we will agree going forward and show the world that Christians have a way of disagreeing and yet still retaining our love for one another and our faith in God and the Holy Spirit to lead us in this process.

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Photos Of Unidentified Bodies Posted Online

Pictures of unidentified bodies have been uploaded to a new police website in the hope of finding out who they are.

The website features images of some of the 1,000 people the Missing Persons Bureau has on file.

As a precaution any thought to be distressing are marked with a warning and require confirmation before viewing.

The site also lists the age, ethnicity, hair and eye colour of those featured, as well as a description of the clothing they were wearing and any distinguishing features, such as tattoos and piercings.

Bureau manager Joe Apps said: "The aim of the new site is to bring closure to the families and friends of the people featured.

"With new unidentified person cases we rely on modern forensic techniques for identification, but on older cases we look to use every tool available and believe that publicity is the best chance of getting images recognised."

The site also has pictures of footwear

He added: "This will be the first time families of missing people have been able to search through records for themselves and it will empower families to play an active part in the search for their loved ones."

As well as bodies, the website will also feature living people, including those who have lost their memory.

Users are able to search through the cases - some dating back to the 1960s - and provide information about the people featured.

Any relevant details are then passed to the police or the coroner in charge of the case.

The Missing Persons Bureau, which was set up four years ago, records around 15 unidentified bodies every month.

Its website is similar to three in the US. Police in Switzerland and Belgium have also posted the details of unidentified people online to help with their investigations.

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Safety Concerns As King's Cross Fire Is Marked

Transport trade unionists marking the 25th anniversary of a tube station fire have demanded the scrapping of proposed staffing cuts.

Dozens of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) gathered outside King's Cross station in London to remember the 31 people who died there after a fire on an escalator on November 18, 1987.

Thought to have been caused by a dropped match, a subsequent public inquiry into the tragedy led to tighter safety standards on London Underground.

But the RMT claims Mayor of London Boris Johnson's "threat" to cut station and platform staffing levels and introduce driverless trains would make the tube network unsafe again.

Tube staff protest against proposed cuts

RMT general secretary Bob Crow laid a wreath at the foot of a plaque inside the station dedicated to the victims' memory.

He said: "We are here today first of all to show our sympathy and our condolences to the people who lost their lives 25 years ago.

"I worked for London Underground 25 years ago, I remember that night still vividly.

"It could have been me travelling home, my family, my friends, it could have been you, it could have been anyone that particular night."

The King's Cross tragedy led to tighter safety standards

Mr Crow said the recommendations made after the fire had made the Underground safer, as witnessed during terrorist attacks and emergencies on the Tube since.

"What we are seeing now is a number of people who want to reduce costs if they can," he said.

 "We can't allow for the accountants of Transport for London or the Government to try and reduce the staffing and make it unsafe for London Underground workers and the people that use the Tube."

More than 100 people were taken to hospital after the King's Cross fire.

Among those killed was fireman Colin Townsley who was posthumously awarded a certificate of commendation for his bravery, as were five other firemen who survived.

Smoking was immediately banned on all parts of the Underground after the fire and wooden escalators were replaced.

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Afghanistan: Bond Star Drops In On UK Troops

Troops at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan were taken by surprise when 007 star Daniel Craig dropped in on their base.

The actor met 800 soldiers, airmen and sailors just before they watched the new Bond movie, Skyfall.

During his tour of the camp, Craig witnessed some of the training given to troops before they are sent to forward operating bases.

He also got the chance to fire some of the machine guns they use and took the wheel of the Foxhound vehicle in which he was shown around.

Force Master Driver Warrant Officer Class 1 Rob Ingham said: "We get quite a lot of visitors here, but having James Bond was special.  He seemed to be pretty comfortable in the driving seat!"

Craig later visited the world-class Bastion Role 3 Hospital, which is acknowledged to be a centre of excellence for trauma medicine.

A scene from the movie

Private Scott Craggs, 23, from Newcastle, a Combat Medical Technician serving with 3 Medical Regiment, said: "It was really good morale for everyone - it's a decent thing for him to take time to come out and visit everyone here."

The star's final stop was a practical demonstration of Counter Improvised Explosive Device searching techniques where he was given a chance to use detectors to search for buried training devices.

Warrant Officer (Second Class) Paul Ward, Squadron Sergeant Major, said: "It was good to see Daniel Craig here in Bastion... Our training is critical to keeping Afghans and our own soldiers safe."

Sgt Dave Hammond RAF, one of those lucky to get a ticket for the film, said: "It was like a return to the old James Bonds. There was a bit of humour and some spectacular effects.

"It was great to be able to see the film here and to have James Bond himself to introduce it was brilliant!"

Private Shane Awbery, 23, from Doncaster, a communications specialist, said: "It was great for morale and the atmosphere in the tent when we were watching the film was buzzing.

"The film was really good, too – and I liked it that he answered our questions."

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Young Drivers 'Face Passenger Restrictions'

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

Young drivers could be banned from carrying passengers who are not members of their own family in a bid to cut the number of deaths on the roads.

More than 1,500 17 to 24-year-olds in the UK were killed or seriously injured while driving a car last year, according to the Department for Transport.

One in every eight drivers is under 25, but they account for a third of the number of people who die on the Britain's roads.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the Daily Telegraph he would consider measures put forward by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) which could cut the number of accidents involving young motorists.

"There is a suggestion as to whether you should look at a restriction whether anyone could carry passengers for six or nine months when they have first passed their test," he said.

"There are suggestions about them only perhaps being allowed to take a family member to drive a car when you are learning, you have to have a qualified driver in the car. So these are all sorts of areas that I think we can look at."

Kelly's sister, Abi (left), and mother, Della

Among the ABI proposals are a ban on carrying passengers other than family members, a minimum one-year learning period, restrictions on night time driving for the first six months after passing their test and a lower alcohol limit.

The ABI's Huw Evans said:"We absolutely acknowledge that most young drivers are responsible people who want to learn a useful life skill that will be very important for them both in their work and their private lives.

"The key thing is to help them to become safer and most accidents happen not because people are being reckless but because they're inexperienced."

Kelly Phillips, 17, from Surrey, died in 2005 when the car she was a passenger in hit a tree at 80mph.

She had been sitting in a car listening to music with a 17-year-old boy who did not yet have his licence - the decision to go for a drive on the public road cost them both their lives.

Kelly's mother, Della Phillips, told Sky News: "I try to hide behind this facade of strength. But inside I'm crying all the time, I'm missing her all the time.

The Drive IQ campaign

"It's like a craving, you're not seeing the memories you expected to see when you have a child."

Ms Phillips is calling for an alternative approach to the measures being considered by the Government and is backing a free education campaign called Drive IQ - an online education programme that puts pre-drivers and novices through potentially hazardous road scenarios. 

Some 350 schools and 30,000 young people already use the programme but it could be rolled out to thousands more.

She said: "When it comes to young people being safer in cars, lack of knowledge can kill. I know that only too well.

"We want every mum and dad out there to ensure their child and their child's school/college uses Drive IQ straightaway as it addresses attitude and behaviour.

"We have to tackle this issue right now." 

Louise Ellman, chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee, told Sky News that something has to change.

"We need the Government to come forward very quickly now about what their proposals are.

"There should be support for voluntary activities, perhaps in schools, perhaps in driving clubs to develop positive attitudes towards driving before people actually take their tests."

:: Road Safety Week runs from November 19 to November 25. For more information visit www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.

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Meningitis B Vaccine Set To Be Approved

A lifesaving meningitis B vaccine is set to be licensed for use in the UK in a move that could save thousands of lives.

The disease, which is the most common and deadliest form of meningitis in the country, affects some 1,870 people each year, many of them children, and results in death for one in 10 sufferers.

The approval of the new 4CMenB vaccine, which has been developed by pharmaceutical company Novartis, has been hailed by the charity Meningitis UK as the "biggest leap forward in the field" in three decades.

The vaccine received a "positive opinion" verdict from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Friday, meaning that the vaccine is considered safe and effective.

It will be the first meningitis B vaccine approved for use in the UK, which has one of the highest incidence rates in the world.

One in four sufferers is left with life changing after-effects, such as brain damage and limb loss, with children under five most at risk from the disease.

The charity said the next stage will be to give the vaccine - which has the trade name Bexsero - a marketing licence. It is expected to receive its UK licence early next year.

Meningitis UK wants the vaccine to be introduced into the Government's routine immunisation schedule as soon as possible, so it will be automatically given to children. The jab is recommended for those aged two months and older.

Meningitis UK founder Steve Dayman, who lost his baby son to meningitis and septicaemia in 1982, said: "This is a landmark moment in the fight against meningitis - I have waited three decades to hear this.

"It is vital that the vaccine is introduced in the UK immunisation schedule as soon as possible. It will save countless lives and prevent many people enduring the suffering caused by this devastating disease.

"We will be campaigning hard to make the Government introduce it."

The decision on whether to introduce the vaccine to the immunisation schedule will be made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), who advise the Government on vaccination.

There are a large number of meningitis B strains in the UK - more than in many other countries - which makes producing a vaccine very difficult. Meningitis B accounts for about 90% of cases in the UK.

The new vaccine is described as a real breakthrough as studies have shown it should protect against 73% of strains which cause the disease in the UK.

Scientists have been attempting to develop a broad-ranging Meningitis B vaccine for years and have used a revolutionary new approach called reverse vaccinology to create it.

This involved sequencing the genome of the bacteria and identifying proteins that provoke an immune response against a broad range of strains.

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